In 1989 Volkswagen created the Golf Rallye, the car featured four-wheel-drive with a heavily revised supercharged 1.8 engine. The Rallye has a top speed of 130 mph and 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds. The engine produces 160 bhp at 5600 rpm due to the compression ratio of 8:1 and maximum supercharged boost pressure of 0.56 bar.

The Rallye sits on 6Jx15 multi-spoke alloy wheels, shod in 205/50VR-15 tyres. The car has a similar suspension set up to the 16-valve, except that the springs and shock absorbers have higher damping rates and stronger anti-roll bars. The bodywork was improved with redesigned front and rear bumpers with deaper aprons, the legendary steel box arches and rectangular head lights incorporated in a three-bar grille.

Only 5071 Rallyes were built and less than 70 were officially imported into the UK. Many on the Continent had basic GTI spec interiors, however most of the UK ones had ‘Lux Specification’ half-leather, electric windows and sunroof. (source: 4 Star Classics)

The 1990 Skoda Favorit was rated as one of the top 10 cars of 1990 by the Guild of Motoring Writers. It was designed by Bertone of Italy, with British and German engineering input The result was this sleek but spacious 5-door hatchback with a 1300 cc engine and a five speed manual gearbox. It included front and back head restraints and had a selling price of £4,997. If that’s not good enough, it achieved an impressive 53.3 MPG.

The 1990 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo had the combined muscle of a Garrett TO2 Turbocharger unit and a 133 DIN PS engine, which drove it from 0-60 in just 7.7 seconds and to a top speed of 127 MPH. The June 20th issue of AutoCar proclaimed “The RS Turbo simply leaves the immediate opposition trailing in its wake”. The styling was appropriately cool as well with its unique alloy wheels and the low profile tires, the body colored bumpers and rear spoiler, the distinctive dark green moulding inserts and the bonnet estimator vents. Among other refinements were the Recaro seats, central locking, power front windows and sunroof, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear lever knob, all standard. A few of the available options included anti-lock brakes and electrically heated Quickclear windscreen.

The special edition 1992 Vauxhall Nova Sri had a multi-point, fuel-injection 1.4 liter engine with a catalytic converter that was described by What Car magazine as “Crisply-responding, smooth-revving and muscular”. It delivered 82 BHP through a five-speed gearbox. It had special sports suspension and upgraded shock absorbers, as well as an anti-roll bar and grippy 14″ low profile tires. It was pretty good looking too, with its aerodynamic spoilers, sports wheels, sports front seat and tinted glass. Other standard features included electric front windows, central locking and a top security radio/cassette. It was available in Glacier White, Breeze Blue, the pictured Flame Red and the optional Black. It was priced at £9,805.

This was the fourth generation (starting in 1993) of the Charade, which was initially introduced in 1977. The 1994 Daihatsu Charade DeTomaso was a Japanese tribute to Alessandro deTomaso and had 124 HP. It came with a special body kit, Recaro seats, Nardi Torino steering wheel, Pirelli tires and a host of other interior decorative bits. (image source: John Lloyd)

This 1995 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evolution 2, with its 2-litre 16-valve turbo inline four, produced 215 HP and is the car that buried the Audi Quattro, both in the World Rally Championship and on the open road. The first Evolution cars rolled of the production line at the end of 1991 and through 1992. Presented in June 1993, the second Evolution version of the Delta HF Integrale featured an updated version of the 2-litre 16-valve turbo with a new water cooled Garrett turbocharger. A catalyst was also fitted to lower emissions but overall the power was increased to 215bhp.

In order to underline the even more advanced engineering and performance of the 1993 version, the new Integrale was also given a cosmetic and functional face-lift including body coloured roof moldings, improved air intake grilles, an aluminum fuel cap and a red painted cylinder head.(image and info courtesy of 4Star Classics)

The 1996 Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato R hatchback has a 659cc four cylinder engine. Other than a race inspired, and large logo on the side, this is one car and brand I just can’t seem to fully embrace. (image source: John Lloyd)

the 1992 Dacia 1325 Liberta has a bit of Renault Fuego in it, despite that it was not built by Renault. I love the classic boxy look, and while it appears like it’s more from the late 70s, this 1992 effort from Romania seems to embrace the past quite well. (image source: John Lloyd)

The 1996 Ford Laser hatchback was sold in much of Asia in the late nineties. We didn’t get this in North America because they think we won’t buy hatchback cars. We got the Escort ZX2 instead because it had a trunk.

The Ford Laser Hatchback 1500 DOCH sold in much of Asia in the late nineties. It did not come to North America because of the false belief that hatchback don’t sell here. We got the Escort ZX2 instead because it had a trunk. Also available as the Mazda 323 three door (with a different front), but Mazda didn’t sell them here, either. (source: Hugo90)

In 1990, Volkswagen introduced the Corrado. The fastest Volkswagen at the time. A long list of standard features included a supercharged, intercooled G60 engine, four-wheel independent suspension and 4-wheel power disc brakes. A rear deck spoiler that automatically rises at speeds over 45 mph and a sleek, aero shape, crafted by Karmann Coachworks. It reached 0-60 in 7.5 seconds with a top track speed of 140 mph.